The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-13
MIR. HOGENToGLER's EELS.
How a Stony Creek Angler Got His Wagon
load of Wood the Barn.

Harrisburg. Pa. Special in Philadelphia Press.
The inhabitants of the Stony Creek valley,
which lies in the Blue mountains. FIVE miles
above Harrisburg, great eel catchers. The
fish of Stony Creek dam completely domi-
mated by the cells. which grow to unusual
size. For the past five years there have been
two cells in the dam that have refused all hooks,
but have lived so sumptuously on the delicasies
of the dam that Stony Checkers believed them
to have attained prodigious proportions. No
story of the discovery OF a sea serpent has ever
reached the ears of the residents of the valley
that they did not match, when they came to
market in Harrisburg with more astounding
tale of the performances of Stony Creek dams
monstrous cells.
Jeremiah Hogentogler is OF the leading
and most highly respected inhabitants of Stony
Creek valley. He makes frugal living by sell
ing kindling wood, pine knots, mountain tea
berries and Christmas trees In the city markets
on Wednesdays and Saturdays He has now
become a hero. for on last Thursday he captured
the two great cells. As Mr.. Hosentogier tells
the incident himself, he had started with his
mule and wagon on a bookkeeping expedition
along the mountain side that borders the dam.
A Stony Creeker always carries a hook and line
with him, and when he tires of chopping wood
or digging for sassafras he invariably takes q
little recreation by fishing for cells in the dam.
Last Thursday Mr.. Hogentog!er baited his hook
with come corned beef and landed both of the
famous cells. much to his surprise, and after q
tough struggle. One eel was within two inches
of four feet in length, and the other measured q
trife over three feet. He skinned his prizes at
once, ana, to prevent the hides from shrinking,
stuffed each with green walnuts and tufts of
dried grass.
When Mr.. Hogentogler had finished his days
work in the woods he drove his mule homo with
q well-loaded wagon. About twenty yards from
his barn, just darkness had begun to settle in
the valley the wagon stuck in mud hole. Mr..
Hogeutoeler whipped his mufe vigorously Tho
animal strained and tueged IN an effort to move
the wagon. and, to make the situation still more
exasperatine. both of the traces broke. In this
emergency Mr.. Hogentogler bethoueht him of
the eel skins. They were tough. and he substi-
Guted them for the traces. When they had been
emptied of their contents, fastened to the single
tree and tied across the breast of the mule the
whip was put to the animal again, and he moved
off without difficulty. He had but q few
PAGES, however before Mr.. HogentoQler discov-
cred that the wagon was standing still. The
skins were not yet dry and were stretching.
When the mule reached the barn the wagon
still remained in the mud hole, and it was quite
dark
''But wasn't dern bit bothered" relates
NJ. Hogentoeler, 81 jist slipped them new traces
over the end of hitchiu' post and went to bed.
/ knowed them skins would shrink, aud,
enough, they did. In the mornin' that wagon.
load of wood was drawn plump I'D agin that
post"
Mt. Hogentoeler will preserve the eel-skins,
and has nailed them on the outside of his barn
doors